Inclusion of Consumption in Emissions Trading an International Comparison William Acworth, DIW Berlin
Background and experience England Dual Citizenship: UK and Australian Germany Masters of Public Policy - Hertie PIK, DIW Berlin Australia Bachelor of Resource Economics Ministry for Agriculture Public Policy Consulting Asia-pacific emissions trading forum
The Inclusion of consumption in emissions trading Why are the second wave of emissions trading schemes targeting the consumption of greenhouse gases? Evidence from: 1. Tokyo; 2. Korea; and 3. California
Inclusion of Consumption around the world Region Status Good Scope of Coverage and Relevant Policy Domestic Production Consumption of Domestic Treatment of Imports California Active Electricity Absolute C&T None Absolute C&T China - Guangdong Active Electricity Absolute C&T Absolute C&T None China - Shanghai Active Electricity Hybrid C&T Hybrid C&T None China - Shenzhen Active Electricity Rate C&T Rate C&T None Japan Tokyo Active Electricity None Absolute C&T None Republic of Korea Active Electricity Absolute C&T Absolute C&T None California Under Debate Cement Absolute C&T with OBA None A fee, possibly. Australia Repelled Synthetic Gases Fee None Fee
Tokyo Municipal Government s ETS (TMG ETS) Overview Cap - 6 to 8 % (2010-14) & 15 to 17% (2015-20) Covered Entities - 1400 urban facilities that consume more than 1500 kl of crude oil equivalent per year. Covered gases C02 Covered emissions 20% How is consumption included? Point of regulation facility level (building owners and in some cases tenants)
Why target the consumption of electricity? Total Emissions Industrial/ Commercial Emissions 40% 40% 1,400 Large facilities Transport Commercial Household Industry 60% 700,000 small to medium facilities
Why target the consumption of electricity: other issues 1. Legislative reasons - 90 per cent of electricity production facilities are located outside of the Tokyo Prefecture. TMG does not have the constitutional right to establish property rights. 2. Market Efficiency concerns - split incentives in landlordtenant contracts
The outcome? 23% emission reduction from base year within 2 years!! 93% of covered entities reduced emissions more than their obligations. Caveat the Great East Japan Earthquake Possible learnings Inclusion of consumption used to target small number of large emitters. Is effective in aligning split incentives in the commercial building sector. Reporting an open dialogue between tenants and building owners assisted rapid emission reductions
Korea s ETS Overview Cap rolling cap set three years ahead (2015-573 MtCO2e; 2016-562 MtCO2e; 2017-551 MtCO2e) Covered Entities 525 entities Covered gases CO2, CH4, N2O, HFC, PFC, SF6 Covered emissions 66% How is consumption Included? Cap and trade includes direct and indirect emissions from the power sector
Why target consumption of electricity? Price regulation in the power sector means zero pass through of carbon price to electricity consumers. Incentives for cleaner electricity generation but no incentive for reduced electricity use! Therefore, require consumers of electricity to purchase and surrender allowances for indirect emissions based on carbon intensity of power supply. Shift to cleaner production Carbon intensity factor Increase energy efficiency Direct emissions Indirect emissions
Why target consumption of electricity? Price regulation in the power sector means zero pass through of carbon price to electricity consumers. Incentives for cleaner electricity generation but no incentive for reduced electricity use! Therefore, require consumers of electricity to purchase and surrender allowances for indirect emissions based on carbon intensity of power supply. Double counting NOT double burden!
California s ETS Overview Cap 1990 levels by 2020 Covered Entities 350 entities Covered Gases CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6, HFC, PFC, NF3 and other fluorinated GHG Covered emissions 85% How is consumption included? Attribute emissions to electricity imports point of regulation electricity consumers Imports assigned a specific or default emission rate (initially set at.428 MT/MWH)
Why Include imported electricity consumption? Electricity generation in California is relatively clean compared to generation from the mid-west. Highly connected Western Electricity Grid - fear of increasing share of imported electricity hence inter-state leakage concerns. Resource reshuffling still a concern clean energy imported to California and dirty energy sent to states without cap-and-trade
Inclusion of Imported Cement Consumption? Why Inclusion of imported Cement Consumption? Homogeneous product with relatively small number of additional points of regulation. High leakage risk category. ARB intended to cover in 2015, likely delayed. Options for implementation Option 1: rely on default emissions factor for cement from an unspecified sources. Option 2: rely on default emissions factor based on technology and fuel mix. Option 3: full reporting of emissions associated with cement imports.
Conclusions and lessons learnt Inclusion of Consumption has been used to address three limitations to ETS: 1. Split incentives in improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings; 2. Regulation in the electricity price market; and 3. Address leakage concerns. Does this represent an option for structural reform of the EU ETS??